OzarksPhotosTravels

While we were waiting on our good friends here in Soldotna, Alaska to pick us up to go to dinner I noticed some activity on the lake their land borders. I picked up one of my cameras and was rewarded with the images below. These are ‘bonus images’ as I did not expect to get the opportunity to get either varieties on this visit to Alaska.

A blue-winged teal proudly showing its trademark identification feature.

The same blue-winged teal swimming among the lily pads. By this time it was getting late and cloudy so I was pleased this image turned out this well.

Even later a pair of sandhill cranes flew in. Winter must be getting closer and these birds are starting their migration to Bosque del Apache, New Mexico or some other warmer location.

The pair of sandhill cranes taking off and heading south. Not as good an image I would have liked but they were moving out quickly.

Larry Daniel
www.OzarksPhotos.com
ozarksphotos.wordpress.com

While visiting our friends in Soldotna we went down to their dock on Sports Lake. Saw this female mallard swimming around in the lily pads. Hoped to get a good reflection image but she and the sun did not cooperate fully.

We will be going to the Russian River Campground tomorrow for three nights and will probably not have any cell coverage so this may be our last post for several days as we will be heading back across Canada and will have most cellular units turned off. International plans are not cheap and hopefully we will be across Canada and back into the USA in two or three days.

Female Mallard duck swimming in Sports Lake near Soldotna, Alaska.

Silhouette of the same female mallard.

Larry Daniel
www.OzarksPhotos.com
ozarksphotos.wordpress.com

Just to let you know, all is fine. We have been resting, relaxing, restocking, regrouping and visiting friends in Soldotna. This Sunday we will join them for three nights of camping at the Russian River Campground. We will be hoping to get some images of people and bears angling for salmon during our stay there.

I thought I should post something. And I do not think there will be cell coverage at the campground. When we leave the campground we will be headed home. About 4,000 miles is all. 🙂

Have a great day!

Larry

Larry or Marilyn Daniel
2008 190P 4WD Roadtrek
Sent from my iPad 3
http://www.OzarksPhotos.com
https://ozarksphotos.wordpress.com for our blog about our travels

This is part of the view from where we camped last night. Mt. Redoubt is on the other side of Cook’s Inlet. Our viewpoint was from Kenai, Alaska.

The image below was earlier in the morning before all the fog and clouds had cleared.

This is the same view with a longer lens and about noon when some of the clouds had cleared.

Larry or Marilyn Daniel
2008 190P 4WD Roadtrek
Sent from my iPad 3www.OzarksPhotos.com
https://ozarksphotos.wordpress.com for our blog about our travels

When we were in Kennecott a few days ago we walked by one of the homes. There was a large array of different kinds of flower. They were blooming as if they were on steroids, absolutely beautiful.

This is just one example, this very deep purple delphinium.

Larry Daniel
www.OzarksPhotos.com
ozarksphotos.wordpress.com

We left our spot at Fred Meyer in Soldotna and drove over to a commercial campground that we saw yesterday while touring around the Kenai area. It sits high on hill looking over Cook Inlet and the Kenai River. We were fortunate that one of their ‘overlook’ sites was being vacated and we were able to get it. Very likely too far from the inlet and river to get any good images but we will try later today.

While waiting for out camp site to be vacated we drove around the area for a while.

We were very surprised to find this bull caribou out at noon. Getting this image is a bonus for doing a bit of exploring.

Our campground for tonight is just a short distance from the old Russian Orthodox Church in Kenai.

Larry Daniel
www.OzarksPhotos.com
ozarksphotos.wordpress.com

Early this morning it was raining and overcast. We decided to explore a bit, regardless. We drove to the end of the Kenai Spur highway, through Kenai and Nikiski all the way to the Captain Cook Recreation area. Finally on the way back the sun appeared and even though the wind was howling a gale we stopped in Kenai. We found the old Russian Orthodox Church and got a couple of images.

The old but well cared for Russian Orthodox Church in Kenai, Alaska.

A close up view of the unusual steeple of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kenai.

Larry Daniel
www.OzarksPhotos.com
ozarksphotos.wordpress.com

Excuse my testing of sending an email with an image using a cell phone as a Hot Spot. Hoping it will work as most Wii-Fi connections here in AK are slower than I am. LOL

This is a somewhat sleepy looking Steller Sea Lion from a few days ago when we were at Valdez. Forgive me if I have already sent this one.

Larry Daniel
www.OzarksPhotos.com
ozarksphotos.wordpress.com

While stopped in the pullout at Tern Lake we were fortunate to have a family of loons swim by fairly close. The only thing which could have made it better would to have have a bit of sun on the scene.

Loon family, both adults and a young one. Leisurely paddling by in Tern Lake, Alaska.

One adult loon and its chick. Apparently enjoying a swim in Tern Lake.

Larry Daniel
www.OzarksPhotos.com
ozarksphotos.wordpress.com

While we were driving back to Soldotna this morning we stopped at the pullout at Tern Lake.

There is a story we have heard, once upon a time a truck hauling vodka overturned, spilling its load into the lake. They say that “no tern was left unstoned”.

A view of a portion of Tern Lake and the hillside.

Larry Daniel
www.OzarksPhotos.com
ozarksphotos.wordpress.com